A viral video shows two “loss prevention” employees manhandling a teenage girl for stolen candy at a WinCo in Vancouver Washington

The video was uploaded to Kristin Nerton’s Facebook account on Saturday

The teenage girl was stopped after she got caught stealing candy

Now the girl in the video is facing second-degree robbery

A viral video is sparking outrage and debate after a woman uploaded a video to Facebook showing two WinCo “loss prevention” employees being extremely rough with a teenage girl after she was caught stealing candy.

Kristin Nerton

The video was uploaded to Kristin Nerton’s Facebook account on Saturday and has been viewed over 7 million times. Some say the response from the WinCo employees was too much, while others say that is what the 14-year-old teenage girl deserves for stealing.

The video begins with one of the loss prevention employees for the WinCo located at 905 N.E. 136th Ave, in Vancouver, Washington, holding the teenage girl on the ground and in a full nelson. A group has already gathered around the girl, with several of them yelling for the two employees to stop being so aggressive to the young girl.

The video lasts just under seven minutes and ends with the police arriving on the scene after the employees dragged the girl back inside of the store. The video can be viewed in its entirety below.

The teenage girl was arrested and taken to Juvenile Detention Hall in Vancouver. She now faces second-degree robbery, a felony, due to struggling with the employees and causing minor injuries.

WinCo claimed in a statement to KATU News that the girl tried to “conceal items” and then left the store. Employees stopped the girl, and she began “physically attacking” employees, which all occurred before Nerton began recording the viral video. The full statement from WinCo can be read below.

Thank you so much for contacting us regarding the video that was published on social media. We appreciate the public’s concern over this incident and would like to provide information about what took place, as well as our ongoing investigation. WinCo Foods began to investigate immediately after the incident took place. While in our store, the individual concealed items and left the store without paying. The individual was then approached by WinCo Foods’ loss prevention employees, who identified themselves as such. As our employees questioned the individual, she attempted to flee and was detained by WinCo’s loss prevention. At this point, the individual initiated contact by physically attacking multiple employees. All of this occurred immediately before the footage started in the video posted on social media.

WinCo Foods immediately called the Vancouver Police Department, who responded quickly, and subsequently Vancouver Police Department arrested the individual for robbery. The video concludes with the officer arriving onsite.

We understand that the media, our customers, and the general public are interested and concerned about the situation. We are continuing to investigate the situation and cooperating fully with local law enforcement, and are unable to provide any further details at this time. As we continue our investigation, we want to thank everyone for allowing us a chance to explain the full details of what happened – including key pieces of information not shown in the video. Thank you.

Vancouver police stated that after speaking to several bystanders, nobody witnessed loss prevention employees assault the girl, or use excessive force. Police also said the girl only suffered a scrape on her knee and on her elbow.